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How To Play American Roulette - Rules, Layout and Winning Bets

Guide to the American Roulette Wheel. Learn how to win when you play roulette.


What is American Roulette

Guide to the American Roulette Wheel. Learn how to win when you play roulette.

Written by: Stefano Rossi | The review was last updated: 12 August 2022 | Fact-check by: Kim Birch

CERTIFIED EXPERT CERTIFIED EXPERT
Stefano Rossi, a BETO™ expert in game theory and quantitative analysis, specializes in classic casino games like Roulette, drawing on considerable experience from Italian casinos. About Stefano Rossi

Casinos have long been the most fun and entertaining place to hang out with friends. A place where you not only get to play exciting slot machine games, but you also get a chance to win exciting cash prizes on your way back home. Apart from the slot machines, you can try your luck on some evergreen classic table games too.

One of the absolute most thrilling games that you can find in almost all brick-and-mortar casinos is Roulette. The classic table game where the player spins the wheel and then throws a ball over it and wins cash prize by guessing the right socket over which the ball lands. Roulette has many versions, which are played throughout the world. Each version has different rules, but the classic gameplay remains constant. 

The American Roulette Wheel has a special place in the hearts of gamblers. This game was first played in France, where it became widely popular; later, it spread within American casinos. You can also find different versions of American Roulette in American and European Casinos, where the most daring players bet and enjoy the thrill.

Playing american roulette and rules for making roulette bets.

Playing american roulette and rules for making roulette bets.

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American Roulette Wheel and how to play roulette with american rules

Around the late 18th century, the table game called Roulette entered France, and players were immediately attracted to this thrilling and risky game. Soon enough, the Americans were introduced to it, and the gamblers there could not resist trying it out. The version of Roulette played in America is almost like the original European and French game, with just one noticeable difference. In American roulette real money games, the house edge is higher because there are two green sockets in the spinning wheel. These sockets are denoted by a single zero and a double zero, making the game riskier than before.

Blaise Pascal, a famous mathematician and scientist, is credited with the invention of this widely popular casino game. Blaise Pascal, a famous mathematician and scientist, is credited with the invention of this widely likeable casino game.

In earlier versions of the game, the wheel did not have zeroes. This increased the chances of landing the ball on the correct numbers. Players had better odds of winning. But, when the house realized they could lower these odds, they added another socket with a single zero. Casino owners made it more difficult for players to hit their chosen number this way. This method proved effective for the house, and soon a second pocket was added in casino wheels with a double-zero. The American casino owners used this strategy to their advantage. The chance of guessing the correct number on which the ball will land is 1 in 38.

Casinos in America have had this game in the house for many years now. In the early days, an eagle denoted the extra socket on the Roulette wheels instead of a double-zero. Even though the odds of winning were lowered in the American version, the game gained popularity throughout the years. When people are gambling, they have to take a chance on their luck.

Gambling on the internet is becoming more popular with each passing day. This industry has a vast game collection, and naturally, American Roulette has made it into this collection in many different versions. These provide not only Americans but foreigners too, a chance of experiencing online casinos. Dive into the American Roulette experience in this virtual gambling platform and try to top up your gaming balance by spinning the wheel.

The classical table games inspire these games in casinos. They are designed to look like the elegant Roulette tables found in casinos in Vegas. The random spinning wheel outcome completes the effect. The live-dealer American Roulette version is a result of years of evolution in the online gaming industry. This way, you can experience the feel of a real casino without leaving the comfort of your home. This game is truly a classic and is a must-try for all virtual gamblers.

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Roulette bets and Playing Roulette With American Gamerules

To help you get started with this game and increase your chances of winning, we will run you through some of the basic rules of American Roulette. This way, you will know what type of bets you should make and how to win using them.

The Roulette game is based on a spinning wheel with 38 pockets. The numbers 1 to 36 are marked on them, alternatively coloured black and red. Moreover, there are two green sockets marked with a single-zero and a double-zero.

To win, you have to guess which socket the roulette ball will land in. Every time the wheel spins, players predict the socket and wait for the ball to land. The Roulette-wheel is spun in one direction and the ball in the other. You can place your bet on any number. After the Roulette ball lands in a socket, the player with the right guess gets paid. You can use the Roulette tables whenever you want to place a wager. First, get your betting chips from the dealer and head on to a table. The table displays all the possible numbers. You can place your bet easily on the table’s layout.

You can make multiple wagers on a single spin. After the wheel is spun, there is a window to change your bets or forfeit. The dealer then announces ‘no more bets, after which no alterations are allowed. The bets placed cannot be undone. The dealer then waits for the roulette ball to settle and announces the resulting socket. The player who predicted the correct outcome then gets paid.

Video: How To Play American Roulette - Rules, Layout and Winning Bets

American Roulette ball, wheel and table layout.

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Types of bets you can make in American Roulette

To maximise your payouts in American roulette, you should be aware of all the types of wagers you can make in the game. American roulette has straightforward betting options. Moreover, the game lets you make wagering combinations, which helps predict the resulting socket. With all this knowledge, your gaming experience will become more fun, and you will win bigger payouts.

You can test your skills in playing american roulette by using our free games here on BETO.

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Inside bets you can make in the American version of the Roulette

Inside bets are exactly what they sound like. Players can make these bets on the inside of the table layout. You can wager on individual numbers by making inside bets.

One type of inside bet is the Straight-up. You can place your chips on any roulette number in this bet, including the single and double zero green sockets. This gives you payout odds of 35 to one. The Straight-up is the most straightforward kind of bet in American roulette or any other similar game.

You can see a demonstration of the inside bet made in American roulette below while a bet is made on the individual number (5):

Betting systems and betting options from european roulette can be used in american games.

Betting systems and betting options from european roulette can be used in american games.

Split Bet is another type of inside bet. In this type, you place your chip on the line in between two adjacent numbers. You get a payout if the roulette ball lands on any one of the two numbers you placed your chip on. The payout odds of winning in a Split Bet are 17 to 1.

Below you can see a Split Bet being made between the numbers 5 and 8. If the roulette ball lands on either, the bet wins:

American casino rules for the game

American casino rules for the game

American Roulette provides several betting options. Next up, we have the Street Bet, which is yet another type of inside bet. In a Street bet, you place your chip on the line at the end of a row. The three numbers in a single row are under the chip this way, and you bet on all three in this bet. Street Bets have some additional combinations which are 0, 1, 2; 0, 00, 2; or 00, 2, 3. The winning payout in this type of bets are 11 to 1.

The following demonstration shows a street bet being made in American roulette on the table:

Online casinos often offer a free bonus for american roulette due to the high house edge.

Online casinos often offer a free bonus for american roulette due to the high house edge.

The next type of inside bet we have is called Corner Bet, sometimes called the Square Bet. On the table’s layout, there are corners where four numbers meet. In a Corner Bet, you can place your chip on such a corner and make a bet on the whole square of four numbers. If any of the four numbers in your bet is right, you win a payout. This gives you a winning odds of 8 to 1.

American corner bet in a roulette game

American corner bet in a roulette game

There is a type of bet called the Five Number Bet in which you place your chip on the corner between 0 and 1. This bet involves the single and double zero pockets and the numbers 1, 2, and 3; therefore, it is only available in American Roulette.

The Five Number Bet has one disadvantage: the house edge in this type is higher than all the other types. Players often avoid this bet. But getting the correct guess gets you a payout of 6 to 1.

Below you can see exactly where on the table the bet is made in a Five Number Bet:

Five Number Bet aka the sucker bet in olive and online roulette

Five Number Bet aka the sucker bet in olive and online roulette

One more type of bet which can be made is called the Six Line Bet. The line between two rows containing three numbers each makes a combination of 6 numbers. You can make this bet by placing your chip at the end of the adjoining line between these two rows. This way, you are betting on all six numbers, and if any one of them wins, you get your payout. The winning odds are 5 to 1.

Sixline bet in american roulette games

Sixline bet in american roulette games

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All the outside bets in American Roulette

The first type of bet we explained was the inside bets. Now we will explain the second type called the outside bets. These bets are based outside the numbers on the layout. Predicting the outcome is easier for the players in outside bets. These bets provide easier gameplays, but the prizes are also smaller.

The option to make outside bets can be found outside the layout on the table. Here the wheel numbers are displayed, and you can make your bets. Now we shall explain some of the outside bet types:

The first one is the Column Bet. In this type, you can bet on a complete column. All you have to do is put your chip on the “2:1” box that each column has at the end. A column has 12 numbers in it, and there are 3 columns in total. If any of the numbers in your chosen column wins, you get a payout. The payout odds of winning are 2 to 1.

Picture showing a Column Bet on an american roulette table

Picture showing a Column Bet on an american roulette table

The Dozen Bet is another type of outside bet. Instead of betting on an entire column, you bet on one of the three groups containing 12 numbers each. You can place your wager on either the 1st 12 boxes (1 to 12), 2nd 12 boxes (13 to 24), or the 3rd 12 box (25 to 36). The Dozen Bet offers a payout of 2 to 1 on your bets.

The first dozen bet in american roulette covering 12 numbers

The first dozen bet in american roulette covering 12 numbers

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Colour bets in American Roulette - Red or Black?

American Roulette offers its players another type of outside betting option in which you can wager on a colour. The table has “Red” and “Black” boxes on the layout where you can place your chips to make the bets. You bet on either all the red numbers or all the black numbers while making a colour bet. Guessing the right colour gets you a payout of 1 to 1. Remember, you also get your initial bet back when you win in roulette.

There is two colour bets in the american version of the game. red or black.

There is two colour bets in the american version of the game. red or black.

You can also make outside bets based on odd or even numbers. You can wager on all the odd or even numbers of the wheel using this option. Place your chip on the “Even” or “Odd” box on the layout to bet on all the even or odd numbers, respectively. If your wager wins, you will win a payout. The payout rules are similar to the colour betting option.

Illustration of the odd or even bets on the american table.

Illustration of the odd or even bets on the american table.

The final type of outside bet in American roulette is the low or high betting option. Betting on Low covers all the numbers from 1 to 18. Similarly, betting on High covers the numbers from 19 to 36. You can make such a bet by placing your chip on the “1 to 18” box or the “19 to 36” box. Winning offers you a payout of 1 to 1.

The high or low even money bets in the american roulette version

The high or low even money bets in the american roulette version

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Play American version of Roulette on the internet

American Roulette has several different versions of the online game that you can try out. This promises an exciting venture for all gamblers. Some of the biggest names in the iGaming industry were involved in the making of this game. The experience is bound to be fun-filled and ecstatic.

If you want to experience an accurately themed and genuinely fun online casino, then this game is for you. Moreover, you will find multiple versions of American Roulette online from which you can choose yourself. Each one of them has better graphics, alluring music, and stunning gameplays than the last.

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Live American Casino Roulette is now possible on the internet

Evolution Gaming presents a live-dealer online version of American roulette. If you are into this gambling game, then this virtual version is for you. Games from live internet casinos are the newest and fastest-growing games in the interactive gambling industry. This game is a classic, and players who want an authentic roulette experience will love it.

Evolution Gaming is known for its high-quality live-streamed casino games, and Live American Roulette is the latest of their products. The game promises an exciting and authentic gambling experience for all virtual players. Moreover, the streaming software used in the game is of the highest quality. All this will ensure that you feel like you are in an actual casino.

This online version of American roulette also has a spinning wheel like the original version. The wheel is marked with numbers from 1 to 36 coloured black and red alternatively. The 0 and 00 pockets coloured green are also included.

You can make the usual inside and outside bets on the table. Moreover, neighbour bets can be made using a racetrack. When the wheel is spun, it is streamed to the players in real-time. They then watch as the ball lands in a random socket. This raises the stakes and offers more excitement for the veterans of the game.

The game is designed to resemble the actual land-based casinos in Vegas. Players can experience a gambling experience just like those casinos without leaving the comfort of their homes.

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American Roulette Question and Answers

Commonly asked questions related to the American Roulette game

What is highest bet I can place in American Roulette game?

The best wager you can place is to bet on european roulette or French Roulette. This is because the chances of winning in Amerian Roulette are 35:1, as there is only 1/38 chance that you land on a single number. If you are lucky enough to win, you can have your initial bet back also.

What is the most renowned roulette system in American Roulette?

One of the well-known systems to win the American roulette is martingale. This strategy is easy to utilise, and it offers you more than a 50% chance of winning by eliminating the zero.

Which colors have the highest probability to win in American Roulette?

The red and black color has the same probability to win in American Roulette. History was made in 1943 where gamblers witnessed red color make a winning streak of 32.

What are the ways of enhancing your chance to win in the game of American Roulette?

Several ways can help you increase your chances of winning. First of all you can improve your grip on subjects like maths and physics to see how interrelated they are with the game of American roulette. Secondly, you can learn tips and tricks for professional players by watching their bets, and you can always read helpful, free articles on BETO to learn more about American Roulette.

Are the chances of winning a game of American Roulette based all on luck?

No! It is not all about luck. In fact, you need to have the right knowledge, skills, and some luck to win your bets.